Topics in this section

In most cases, when
using the same data with two or more different Autodesk products,
it's preferable to use the
File
Link Manager to connect to drawing files;
this lets you maintain a “live” link between the applications. However,
if you prefer you can also use the Import command to bind to the
drawing file immediately.

The Geometry panel of
the Import Options dialog controls how 3ds Max derives AutoCAD
primitives and whether 3ds Max uses the scene material definitions
when linking to or reloading the AutoCAD drawing. It also presents
options for geometry translation and for toggling inclusion of certain
elements in the DWG or DXF file.

The Spline Rendering
panel of the Import Options dialog lets you determine how spline
objects imported from DWG and DXF files are displayed in the viewports
and how they're treated by the 3ds Max renderer.

The new
AutoCAD
DWG/DXF Import Options dialog contains
many improvements, including enhanced DWG compatibility and greater
user control and customizability; however, some things were also
lost from the DWG Import found in previous versions of 3ds Max.
For this reason, 3ds Max retains the legacy DWG Import functionality.

When you export an AutoCAD
drawing file, you convert your 3ds Max objects into AutoCAD objects.
Because AutoCAD doesn't support animation, the exporter produces
objects in a static state defined by the current frame set by the
time slider.